Manually controlled time switch



.lum s, 1944. 1 s, NUNES 2,350,967

MANUALLY GONTROLLED TIME SWITCH Filed Feb. 21. 1941 BY v ATTORNEYS Patented June 6, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE John S. Nunes, New York, N.,Y., assigner to Elizabeth Lefkowitz, conductng'business as Fulton Electric Mfg. Co., New York, N. Y.

Application February 21, 1941, serial No. 379,921 s ciaims. (ci. o- 5) My invention relates to electric switches and more particularly to an improvement in known forms of hand-operated switches whereby, in addition to the circuits controlled by the known switch structure, further circuits may be controlled for various periods of time at the will of the operator. l

It is the general object of the invention to provide known switches wherewith oneor more circuits are controlled in any desired manner or sequence, with a simple and inexpensive attachment or modification of structure, wherebyA additional circuits may be controlled upon the operation of the switch, as by a pull-chain, or the like, and especially additional circuits which are only temporarily closed during the actuation of the switch-operating element and then opened upon release of such element.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an electric switch of the character above set forth wherein the additional structure over the known switch structure, or the modification of the known structure is of simple, inexpensive, compact, and durable form and does not interfere with the normal use of the switch for the control of single or multi-circuit installations in homes, stores, industrial establishments, etc.

The present invention contemplates the mounting within or upon a known switch mechanism of a stationary Contact which is connected in a circuit which is to be closed (or opened) only temporarily, under the control of the operator, a cooperating contact being associated with such stationary contact and arranged for movement with or by the normal actuating mechanism of the switch to close (or open) the additional or auxiliary circuit upon actuation of the switch by the operator, the additional or auxiliary circuit remained closed (or open) during the interval that the switch is manually actuated by the operator.

The uses to which the improved switch of the present invention may be put are quite various. One use for which the invention is particularly adapted is in the circuits of fluorescent lamps. It is at present the general practice to provide such lamps with a thermally controlled starter which, upon closing of the lamp switch, controls the pre-heating of the lamp and which, after a more or less fixed or predetermined time interval, automatically breaks the starting circuit and leaves the lamp to be operated by the knormal heating circuit which includes the column of heated or ionized gas between the electrodes inside the lamp. This thermostatically operated starter or switch has not proved entirelyA satisfactory in practice because it fails to make allowance for the different characteristics of different lamps, with the result that upon starting, the lamps frequently flicker for a period of time before they begin to burn continuously, or the lamps may even go out, because of insufficient pre-heating of the gas contained in the lamp. Quite frequently, therefore, the switch had to be closed a second or even a third time before steady operation of the lamp was obtained. This control device was objectionable also for the reason that its cost was quite considerable, frequent replacement was necessary, and special provision had to be made for its mounting.

According to the .present invention, a simple modification or addition to the known main switch of such a lamp circuit eliminates entirely the automatic starter with the mounting therefor and places the controlof the normal lighting circuit of the lamp in-the hands of the operator who, after operating the switch to close the starting and if desired, also the main, operating circuit, holds the switch in actuated condition until the lamp begins to burn continuously, whereupon the operator releases the switch actuating member and the starting circuit thereby becomes broken while the normal operating circuit is closed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is an external view of a known form of switch having my improved starting circuit connections incorporated therein;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the switch;

Fig. 3 illustrates a section through the interior of the switch;

Fig. 4 represents a section taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a switch actuating member according to the invention.

Referring to the drawing, the switch illustrated is of a conventional type and may include, for example, two spaced plates l0 and Il made of suitable insulating material, between which one or more pairs of stationary spring contacts I2, i3 are suitably supported upon terminals H, l5 in which screws I6, I1 are threadedly mounted for securing the ends of conductors I8, I9 thereto, as is well understood in the art. The stationary contacts I2, I3 are adapted to be connected and disconnected in any desired sequence by way of a rotary bridging contact wheel 20 of .starf 20. The pawl 23 is operated by a rod 25 which .is.

actuated against the pressure of a` helical spring a member 28 connected by way of a universal l joint 29 with the rod 25. The rod 25 Vand springv 26 are disposed Within a hollow bearing member" v.

circuit controlled by the contacts 35, 36. It will be understood that the whole mechanism may be housed within a suitable casing (not shown).

The operation and control of the additional contacts 35, 3G will be clear from the above description. Upon actuation of the pull-chain 21, for example, to cause closing of the contacts I2, I3, the pawl 23 and hence also thelateral eX- .tension 34, will be movedto theiright. The contact 36 will thus be brought into engagement with the contact 35, and the circuit will remain vclosed so long as the operator (or the mechanical lef l v ,thusy ablefto. control manually the time interval 30, the rod being adapted to reciprocate within" the bearing member and thereby causing recip-lV rocation of pawl l23. The bearing member 30 is provided externally with a circular groove with- `in Vwhich reststherannular inner end` 3I of a knuckle lever 32. The pull-,chain is-xed to the knuckle-lever 32 -byway of a set screw 33. Upon actuation of the pull-chain from any direction, the knuckle: lever will vrock upon the bearing member 30 andwpull the pawl 23 toward the right, as viewed .in Fig. 3therebyfactuating the ratchet wheel 24 by one tooth. Upon release of the pullchain the parts are restored Aby the. spring 26to the position shown'in Fig. 3. The switch mechanism so far describedis of the general type disclosed in the patents. totRudoli Popp, Nos. 1,974,054 and 2,158,084, and its construction 'and operation being well known, itY need not -be -described in furtherdetail. i

I Inaccordance with Ythe present -invention, there is associated with oneof the reciprocating or oscillating .parts .of a switch, such as the switch of theftype just vdescribed, an actuating member controlled from orby such reciprocating part and so arranged as to control an additional pair of contacts; the arrangement being characterized'by` the-feature thatA the relationship of the vadditional' contacts, e. gv, their `open condition, 'is' altered, e.fg. they are'closed, only during the' interval that the pull-chain or equivalent self-returning switch'actuating mechanism is in the actuated or pulled condition, the additional contacts returning to their original condition upon release of the actuating mechanism The 'operator is thus enabled to control the time interval during which the open or closedl condition of the circuit containing the additional contacts-fis a1tered I. A

In the specific embodiment of the invention se'- lected for illustration, the'actuating mem-ber? for the additional contacts -is` in the form of a lateral extension 3ft on the central-web portion of the U-shaped pawl 23. The additional contacts cornprise a stationary contact 35 and a movable spring contact 36 mounted upon-the-outer face of the plate Ill.. A- similar setlofcontacts 31,38 is arranged upon'the outer face of. the' plate I' and' is actuated by-a second lateral extension 39 on the pawl 2.3. As thelconstruotion .and operation of the two vpairs ci additional contacts and their yactuating member is: the same', a descriptionvof` one pairlwi'll suliicei for both.. i

The plate AIll isprovided with an. aperture 4l! through whichth'e lateral. extension'd 34 passes. The upper end-of the extension is provided with a head 4l of insulating materiaiat Vthe level of the-'spring contact 35e-The contacts 35, 35 'are secured to suitablev terminals 412,543' to which are connected cori-ducten,VV lill,A zforming part of the operating member in the case of an automatic installation) holds the pull-chain or equivalent member actuatedcondition. An operator is during which the circuit of the contacts 35, 35

` remains closed; Where such circuit forms the starting circuit of a fluorescent lamp, the chain wiii be held in puued position until the lamp has begun to burn without flickering; Y Upon release of the chain, the' pawl will be returned to its original positionwhile the contacts 35, 36`will b-e opened. It will thus `be seen that the contacts 35, 36 are opened and closedv during a single actuation of the switch, whereasthe contacts I2, I3 are opened and closed only upon successive operatio'ns (two or more actuations, depending upon the wheel). Y Y

As the arrangement and operation of the additional contacts are quite independent of the normal contact arrangement of the switch, itwill be-'evident that, the latter may be of any suitable construction, and may control one or a plurality of circuitsin any desired mannen'forj example, according to the variousv circuits shown in the patent to Popp No. 2,158,084. Y Y

The other set of Yadditional contacts 37, 33 is shown as being operated similarly to theV contacts 35,36. It may however, be so arranged as tobe operated in reverse order; that is, it may b'enormally closed but be temporarily opened on actuation of the pull-chain or the'like. Obi vious'ly more than two sets of' time-controlled additional contacts may be provided land they may be operated directly by the pawl 23 or through any otherof the reciprocating or oscillating parts, or intermediately by way of a motion 'transmitting member.

1. A switch for controlling the startingA and operating circuits of fluorescent lamps and similarly controlled apparatus, comprising aV housing', stationary contactstherein adaptedV lto be connected in the operating circutpf thecontrol' apparatus, and 'tobe connected andV disconnected only upon successive actuations fof the switch;v a'-"roftar'y member including `bridging' means'for said stationary contacts and insulating areas adapted to be brought into active position with reference to the stationary contacts in predeterminedfsequence, mechanism for 'operating the rotary member and including a linearlyV reciprocable element iorl effecting a! step-wise rotation ofthe rotary member during each complete desigril Vof the'bridging contact reciprocation, contacts adapted to be connected with the starting circuitof the controlled appadirection, and a spring for returning the said element into its normal position and at the same time causing release of the said last mentioned contacts by said rigid member, whereupon said contacts are disengaged from each other and the starting circuit is opened.

2. A switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein the reciprocable element comprises a pawl, the rotary member having a, ratchet wheel secured thereto, and engaged by the pawl, the rigid member constituting an integral projection of said pawl, said projection being positioned to engage and move one of the contacts for the starting circuit as the pawl is retracted to rotate the ratchet wheel.

3. A switch for controlling the starting and operating circuits of fluorescent lamps comprising a housing, stationary contacts therein adapted to be connected in the operating circuit of the fluorescent lamps and to be connected and disconnected upon successive actuations of the switch, a rotary member including bridging means for said stationary contacts and insulating areas adapted to be brought into active position with reference to the stationary contacts in predetermined sequence, mechanism for operating the rotary member and including a reciprocable element adapted t'o eiect a stepwise rotation of the rotary member. during each complete reciprocation, a pair ofi-contacts adapted to be connected in the starting circuit of a fluorescent lamp and located upon each side of the reciprocable element, and rigid members extending in opposite directions from the reciprocable element and arranged to engage one of the contacts of each pair of the last-mentioned contacts upon actuation of said element, whereby such contacts are both closed and opened, in

succession, during each actuation of the reciprocating element, whereby the period of operation of the starting circuits can be manually controlled and the reciprocating element released and the lamps placed under the operation only of the operating circuit only after the lamps have begun to burn continuously.

JOHN S. NUNES. 

